The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-07-12
Speech of Hon. j. l.. ROBards,
of Hannibal, at the Bar
Association Ban
quet,
Delivered at Sweet Springs, Mo-,
July 7th. in Response to
the Toast, "The
Judge"

speech of Hon. j. l.. RoBards, of
Hannibal, in responding to toast at
the Bar association banquet on Thurs
day evening last:
Since moses sat to judge the peo-
ple," lawyers and judges have been
the foremost of all classes IN giving
force and direction to the current of
life among their respective nationali-
ties.
This profession stands more closely
allied to the hearths and homes of the
people than do all other vocations, be.
cause of its intimate identity with the
liberty of the individual man the
security of his property rights and all
that endows his vital interests in a
happy. peaceful home.
The supreme law of the land that
harmonizes the discordant, clashing
interests of society in Its multifarious,
sections and localities, compelling con-
trary forces to 60 all one way, like
the quiet, resistless principle proceed
ing from the omnipotent Jehovah,
which pervades and governs the
movements of the sun and
moon and all the starry host,
was essentially framed and
enacted into law by the con.
trolling mind of this dominant pro-
fession of lawyers.
The law is a progressive science,
having, had its birth amid the
thunders and throes of Sinai then so
journing with and fostering the high
est wants of the people wherever So
ciety organized.
1t has pioneered the most advanced
Christian civilization, protecting the
weak against the tyranny of the
strong, upholding the right against
the oppression of the wrong, and en-
larging its equitable bulwarks for
the welfare of society as the incrcas-
ing population demanded justice and
mercy in their most refined and en-
ergetic wisdom, thus multiplying
with the centuries its vast resources
for the public good, like fine old wine
getting better with its hoary age.
To accomplish these magnificent
results the physical, mental and
moral forces of the choicest manhood
have been in all ages employed in
their fullest strength, growing by the
meat on which it is fed, esteeming no
labor too severe, no problem of
jurisprudence applied to humanity's
needs too complex, and no tempta-
ton too seductive, but ever enthusi-
astic and persistent, exercising power
for its development and upward ex-
pansion equal to the emergency.
To the end that society should,
with just and even hand, have the
actual enjoyment of all the salutary
laws evolved by this learned and hon
orable profession, in theory, if not in
practice, the chief among equals, the
lawyer, combining in larger degree
the legal condition of the sage with
the spotless character of the saint,
the courtesy of a Chesterfield with
the equal justice of Solomon.
has constantly been selected to faith
fully administer to each alike from
the judicial bench the uniform, un-
wavering principals of impartial law.
The supreme court, in forty-six Mis-
souri,, Wright VS.. Salisbury, twenty
six section, declared one of the dearest
priced rights of enlightened society
THE court does not sit to represent
parties, but to hear their allegations
and proofs"
Carved thus into prominence from
the ranks of his brothers of the bar
because of the very spirit of judgment
attributed to him the relation Of the
Judge to society, because as well de.
fined and characteristic as that of a
governor to his state, or of a clergy
man to his flock, or that of the Great
Judge of the Universe to the people
of the earth. Elevation to the judg-
ship is reckoned among the splendid
achievements of professional success.
Neither native genius nor brilliant
talent endows its professor with legal
attachments.
Adam leaped into life vigorous
with all the attributes of perfect man.
hood-but lawyers and judges are not
30 created. Their completeness is the
harvest of steady toll produced BY
constant cultivation from q generous
mental soil, warmed with the genial
glow of the midnight lamp, and
moistened with the sweat of the
thoughtful throbbiRg brain.
The judge. helped by thorough
scholarly training in the school of law
and human experience, should execute
the solemn trust with conscientious
fidelity, and be at all points a living